The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III (CE9A) sits at the intersection of Japan's Group A homologation culture and the competitive Asian rally scene of the mid-1990s. Spark Model's 1:43 resin piece documents car No. 4, crewed by Yoshihiro Kataoka and co-driver Satoshi Hayashi at Rally China 1997 — a round that seldom appears in mainstream diecast catalogues. For collectors focused on the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, this is precisely the kind of gap-filling release that defines a specialist shelf.
The Lancer Evolution III CE9A: Group A Engineering from Okazaki
Produced between January 1995 and August 1996, the Lancer Evolution III (internal code CE9A) was built on Mitsubishi's Lancer/Mirage platform and homologated for Group A rally competition. Its 4G63T 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4 engine produced 270 PS (199 kW) in road trim, while rally-prepared variants were tuned considerably beyond that figure. Visually, the Evo III was distinguishable from its predecessors by an enlarged front bumper with additional air intakes and a more aggressive rear spoiler — aerodynamic changes that carried direct performance intent, not cosmetic revision.
Rally China 1997 and the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship
Rally China featured on the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship calendar during the 1990s, drawing both Japanese factory entries and privateer crews. Yoshihiro Kataoka was an established competitor in APRC events throughout the mid-to-late 1990s, campaigning Lancer Evolution machinery against regional and international opposition. At Rally China 1997 he was joined by co-driver Satoshi Hayashi, running under car No. 4. The APRC circuit attracted significant Japanese manufacturer interest during this period, and Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution line was central to that effort — making events such as Rally China important chapters in the model's competitive history.
The 1:43 Scale Model: Spark Model Resin Construction
Spark Model produces its 1:43 rally models in resin with metal components — a construction standard that allows the brand to reproduce short-run, event-specific liveries that conventional diecast tooling economics would never support. This release depicts the Kataoka/Hayashi CE9A in its Rally China 1997 specification, carrying race number 4. APRC-specific releases occupy a narrow segment of the Spark catalogue, and rally livery models of the Lancer Evolution III in particular are scarce across all makers and scales. Opening parts are not a feature of this resin line.
In the Display Cabinet: Placing the No. 4 CE9A
This model reads best alongside other Spark APRC and Asian rally releases from the late 1990s — Subaru Impreza WRC entries in Asian trim, Toyota Corolla WRC variants from the same era, or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV and V pieces covering the 1997–1999 APRC seasons. Collectors who follow Tommi Mäkinen's WRC campaigns with Mitsubishi across 1996–1999 will find the Kataoka CE9A a coherent companion piece, shifting the narrative from Europe to the Pacific theatre where the Evolution platform was equally at home.
Frequently asked questions
What event and year does this model represent?
It represents car No. 4 driven by Yoshihiro Kataoka and co-driver Satoshi Hayashi at Rally China 1997, a round of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.
Who were the drivers of this car?
Yoshihiro Kataoka (driver) and Satoshi Hayashi (co-driver), a Japanese crew active in APRC competition during the mid-to-late 1990s.
What is the Lancer Evolution III CE9A?
The CE9A is the third-generation Lancer Evolution, produced from January 1995 to August 1996, homologated for Group A rally competition and powered by a 4G63T 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4 producing 270 PS in road trim.
What material and scale is the Spark Model?
It is a resin model at 1:43 scale, built to Spark Model's standard construction with metal components. Opening parts are not featured in this line.
